An Interview with Kaylin McFarren: Author of Soul Seeker

My real name is Linda Yoshida but I write under the pen name of Kaylin McFarren — my grandmother’s name, a writer who was never published.

Kaylin McFarren has received 50 national literary awards, in addition to a prestigious RWA Golden Heart Award nomination for Flaherty’s Crossing – a book she and her oldest daughter, New York Times/USA Today best-selling author Kristina McMorris, co-wrote in 2008.

Prior to embarking on her writing journey and developing the popular Threads psychological thriller series, she poured her passion for creativity into her work as the director of a fine art gallery in the Pearl District in Portland, Oregon; she also served as a governor-appointed member of the Oregon Arts Commission.

When she’s not traveling or spoiling her two pups and three grandsons, she enjoys giving back to her community through participation and support of various charitable, medical and educational organizations in the Pacific Northwest. Her latest release, High Flying, takes readers on an unusual time-travel adventure, which asks challenging questions that will linger long after the final twists are revealed. The next book in her soon to be released line-up is titled Soul Seeker and takes readers on a paranormal adventure into the underworld and beyond.

Tell us about your book.

While awaiting his execution on death row, Benjamin Poe meets with his lawyer and shares the unthinkable story of his battle against Crighton—the manipulating, soul-collecting demon that tricked him into murdering his own son. During this reveal, Crighton’s cruelty comes to light, however, in part two of this book, the reader discovers the complexity of this evil, twisted character and is left wondering if he truly has redeeming qualities.

Why did you want to write a book?

I’ve been writing books for more than twelve years and LOVE to tell stories based on my dreams, personal experiences, and adventures around the world. I’ve met the most amazing people and their stories inspire me to write mine. With each book I create, I enjoy taking readers through a maze of possibilities and tend to hide morals or villains in my stories that are not revealed until the final chapters. I guess my interest in writing stems from my interest in reading, since I’be been known to read four to five books a week. I’ve been drawn primarily to murder-mysteries and thrillers, which is the genre I typically write in until Soul Seeker, which is a twisted supernatural story that some readers might view as a fantasy novel.

Why did you choose to self-publish?

I went the “normal” route with a publisher and even signed with a top literary agent in New York many years ago. However, I’m a self-motivated person and like to work at my own pace. I enjoy having complete say-so on my final edits, my story lines, marketing, and cover art. I suppose the best answer to this question is that I like the idea of being my own boss and in simply writing to please my audience as well as myself.

What tools or companies did you use, and what experience did you have?

First, I worked in public relations and handled press releases for numerous companies. I also ran I large art gallery in Portland, Oregon, representing more than 300 gifted artists. This gave me marketing experience and taught me how to sell artistic vision, even myself.

To answer the first part of your question, as a self-published author, I believe editing is crucial as tool for a quality product, much as it is in art. Therefore, I not only had two beta readers but also two professional editing companies finalize Soul Seeker, which will be officially released on Amazon on October 27th. I also believe the cover is important for grabbing a reader’s attention and needs to convey elements of the story, whether it’s a mystery, adventure or romance. Therefore, I enlisted the services of my talented daughter, Amanda Tomo Yoshida, who graduated from top art schools and has worked in the movie industry. She understands my vision and translates it better than any other artist in my experience, allowing my covers to stand out and come alive.

Would you self-publish again?

Always. I enjoy the freedom it brings.

What do you think are the main pitfalls for indie writers?

Marketing is the biggest challenge…just getting the word out about your new book, and this includes reviews and visibility…making sure your book is seen and recognized as quality writing.

What tips can you give other authors looking to self-publish?

Don’t rush to complete your work. Take time to re-evaluate what you’ve written and begin your story in the most powerful way, grabbing your readers from the very first line. Don’t expect to make a fortune in this business. You are investing in your passion and the degree of commitment is determined by you – financially and time wise.

What was your steepest learning curve during the publishing process?

It’s important to write more than one book and to write often. After putting a tremendous amount of work into my first book and winning numerous awards, readers wanted to know what was coming next. I had put so much energy into selling this book, in fact, that I lost sight of my passion and had to rethink how much time and energy I was willing to dedicate to this area of my life. I also discovered that your second or seventh book are only as good as you allow them to be. You are your best salesperson but only if you’re dedicated and believe in your own talent…and allow yourself the space to write.

As a writer, what is your schedule? How do you get the job done?

When I have a story idea, I quickly become obsessed. I plot my stories on Pinterest, since I’m a visual author, and then I dedicate four to five hours every day, creating ten to twelve “clean” pages. I self-edit as I write, which is a slow process. But this eliminates the need to go back and rewrite over and over again. On a particularly good day, I might write twenty pages, but I have to be thoroughly familiar with my characters and the situation they’ve been dropped into.

How do you deal with writer’s block?

I honestly haven’t had this problem, although I have writer friends who do. They tell me that taking walks and just getting away from their work helps.

Tell us about the genre you wrote in, and why you chose to write this sort of book.

I typically writer suspense thrillers and murder mysteries, and have been known to cross genres. This book is a paranormal story delving into the supernatural with fantasy and romance elements. I simply enjoy pushing myself and trying out a new genre was exciting for me. In fact, after completing this story, I’ve decided to continue it in a two or more book series.

Who are your biggest writing inspirations and why?

I’m inspired by talented writers because they motivate me to be better, to transport myself into their worlds and fall in love with their characters. Some of my favorite authors include: James Patterson, Lee Child, Gillian Flynn, Ruth Ware, Tana French, Sherrilyn Kenyon, among others.

How do your friends and family get involved with your writing? What do they think of your book?

I knock ideas around with members of my family and it especially helps when your eldest daughter is New York Times/USA Today best-selling author Kristina McMorris. I also share my plot ideas with my husband and, of course, my youngest daughter Amanda Tomo Yoshida is an amazing artist with a creative mind and several children’s books in the works. They are my greatest cheerleaders and always eager to critique each other’s work.

What are your plans now your book is published?

To continue writing the next book in this series – Soul Savior.

Why did you write about this particular subject?

I’ve always been fascinated with religious beliefs and the perplexity between good and evil that influences our decisions.

What did you learn on your journey as an author?

I didn’t realize how many lives I could touch through my words.

What’s next for you as an author?

Completing the next book in my series and enjoying overdue time with my family.